CassidyIzABeast
Member
The only way to get rid of the Xbox PR problem is to release a new console that's more powerful than PS5. Xbox One itself is the problem. It has a irremovable stigma attached to it.
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"The Message" - GAFMaster Flash and the Furious Forum tackle the XBOX PR issue
- Thread starter bishoptl
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off duty ninja
Member
I preferred xbox the last 2 gens at least until late last gen where I started leaning more towards PS (due to +).
I went ps4 first this gen (also have wii u but that is secondary console) for multiple reasons.
1. Price. The lower price of the ps4 was huge in the decision because $100 is a large difference. Also if you ARE going to charge more it better be for good reason which leads me to reason 2.
2. Tech. the PS4 is undeniably the more powerful console and for me that is important. Raw power is way more important to me as a game than TV, social, cameras, etc. Tech also leads me to point 3.
3. Single Player Experience. Sony has consistently provided better single player, story driven experiences
and that along with the tech give me the optimal way to experience my games with the optimal graphics and polish.
4. My last point has to do with all of the blatant anti-consumer mistakes MS was making during the initial reveal. Sure they may have backpedaled but they showed their true nature before that.
At some point I will end up getting an xbone but it will have to be after their are some good exclusive single play experiences that I can't get elsewhere.
I went ps4 first this gen (also have wii u but that is secondary console) for multiple reasons.
1. Price. The lower price of the ps4 was huge in the decision because $100 is a large difference. Also if you ARE going to charge more it better be for good reason which leads me to reason 2.
2. Tech. the PS4 is undeniably the more powerful console and for me that is important. Raw power is way more important to me as a game than TV, social, cameras, etc. Tech also leads me to point 3.
3. Single Player Experience. Sony has consistently provided better single player, story driven experiences
IMO
4. My last point has to do with all of the blatant anti-consumer mistakes MS was making during the initial reveal. Sure they may have backpedaled but they showed their true nature before that.
At some point I will end up getting an xbone but it will have to be after their are some good exclusive single play experiences that I can't get elsewhere.
I don't really like shooters and I always look at Xbox as the "shooter box" which isn't me. Even with games like Quantum Break, Sunset Overdrive, Tomb Raider, I don't know if they can every do anything to get rid of my perception of "this console is only for people who like shooters".
I'll probably get one at some point down the road when the price is cheaper and there's multiple exclusive games I want to play.
As for the PR stuff. I think they need to stop the sly pull one over on people and imply more then it really is wording of stuff and just be honest and upfront. After the 180 they need to know even the slightest miswording is going to get called out.
I'll probably get one at some point down the road when the price is cheaper and there's multiple exclusive games I want to play.
As for the PR stuff. I think they need to stop the sly pull one over on people and imply more then it really is wording of stuff and just be honest and upfront. After the 180 they need to know even the slightest miswording is going to get called out.
Let's just say that first that I don't see myself ever touching one, my tastes are just too obscure these days for that ever happening and I can get my "AAA" fix elsewhere. But I can think of what they could or should do to make things better for themselves and igniting some interest in general public.
I don't think any verbal apology has any effect whatsoever, that's past them. What they should change is the mental image of the product in everyone's head. I think general public doesn't care about apology or holding grudges, it's just when they see the product it just brings awful awful images of when it was first revealed. First impression is hard to change. That's what really hurts the most still. So a complete reshaping of the console and better renaming it should be in order. that would go a long way toward opening the minds again. We could look at the most recent history in this industry (like we can do much else) PS3 was a troubled console, different troubles but troubles still, it had big exclusives like MGS4 too. But nothing really helped keeping it sustain sales with the competition over the first 3 years even with price cuts granted it was still more expensive but it was selling quite a bit worse everywhere, even in most of Europe. After slim launch thing got changed really quickly. PS3 soon sold more than it sold with the fat model ever in something like 2 years if I recall correctly something like that, the atmosphere around the platform changed dramatically, it wasn't just a price cut. Sure, maybe they never got to great envious position with it but it was a lot better than what it was before. MS better have something like that planned next year the latest, the hardware might not be changeable now but they can change the outside and their branding with it. Doesn't matter if the current one is not bad by itself, it just needs to be changed due to association.
Now first party developments? Well they probably spent the most money out of the three, but spend it really poorly. They seem to be dead set on it too, so I'm not going to waste my breath. Maybe they think it works for them.
As for genre development, previously they had notable entries in RPG genre with Biorware collaborations and even Fable. Now Fable Legend just is something else entirely and they never filled the void of Bioware. One of the most exciting things about 360 and og xbox to me at least were Bioware games. Mass Effect had a lot of buzz pre 2007. Those games led to have notably lopsided western RPG base on 360 with multiplatform games like Fallout or Elder Scrolls you can see how sales were lopsided pretty much everywhere, even regions where they were weak these games performed favorably on their platform. They've completely dropped the ball there. The competition sounds like they might actually getting into that market too with their first party. I think they should have something there instead of more third person shooters. Now this doesn't mean to go pay off Bethesda instead, I imagine that's what they're thinking...
I don't think any verbal apology has any effect whatsoever, that's past them. What they should change is the mental image of the product in everyone's head. I think general public doesn't care about apology or holding grudges, it's just when they see the product it just brings awful awful images of when it was first revealed. First impression is hard to change. That's what really hurts the most still. So a complete reshaping of the console and better renaming it should be in order. that would go a long way toward opening the minds again. We could look at the most recent history in this industry (like we can do much else) PS3 was a troubled console, different troubles but troubles still, it had big exclusives like MGS4 too. But nothing really helped keeping it sustain sales with the competition over the first 3 years even with price cuts granted it was still more expensive but it was selling quite a bit worse everywhere, even in most of Europe. After slim launch thing got changed really quickly. PS3 soon sold more than it sold with the fat model ever in something like 2 years if I recall correctly something like that, the atmosphere around the platform changed dramatically, it wasn't just a price cut. Sure, maybe they never got to great envious position with it but it was a lot better than what it was before. MS better have something like that planned next year the latest, the hardware might not be changeable now but they can change the outside and their branding with it. Doesn't matter if the current one is not bad by itself, it just needs to be changed due to association.
Now first party developments? Well they probably spent the most money out of the three, but spend it really poorly. They seem to be dead set on it too, so I'm not going to waste my breath. Maybe they think it works for them.
As for genre development, previously they had notable entries in RPG genre with Biorware collaborations and even Fable. Now Fable Legend just is something else entirely and they never filled the void of Bioware. One of the most exciting things about 360 and og xbox to me at least were Bioware games. Mass Effect had a lot of buzz pre 2007. Those games led to have notably lopsided western RPG base on 360 with multiplatform games like Fallout or Elder Scrolls you can see how sales were lopsided pretty much everywhere, even regions where they were weak these games performed favorably on their platform. They've completely dropped the ball there. The competition sounds like they might actually getting into that market too with their first party. I think they should have something there instead of more third person shooters. Now this doesn't mean to go pay off Bethesda instead, I imagine that's what they're thinking...
FlyingSaucer
Banned
For the record, I own a PC, will buy a WiiU by the end of the year and I see more and more reasons to buy a PS4.
What I have against the X1 :
- I have absolutely no interest in the X1 exclusives / lack of Japanese exclusives that interest me. I feel that the X1 is designed for an American public, has an American catalogue, so it must sells to an American public - so not me.
- I have had a bad experience with MS last gen (make them delete my CB number was a pain - not a good way to make your customer like you; the 360 dashboard was pretty cool at the beginning but eventually evolved into a messy ads billboard). So I have ZERO confidence in MS to act for the good of the players if it goes contrary to their short terms interests; we have already seen that they didn't do anything for their first customers when they dropped the price of the console the first time, for example.
- pay for online; granted, it's the same on PS4 now. But not PC.
- hardware architecture is ugly, and the console is clearly overpriced for what it is.
What I have against the X1 :
- I have absolutely no interest in the X1 exclusives / lack of Japanese exclusives that interest me. I feel that the X1 is designed for an American public, has an American catalogue, so it must sells to an American public - so not me.
- I have had a bad experience with MS last gen (make them delete my CB number was a pain - not a good way to make your customer like you; the 360 dashboard was pretty cool at the beginning but eventually evolved into a messy ads billboard). So I have ZERO confidence in MS to act for the good of the players if it goes contrary to their short terms interests; we have already seen that they didn't do anything for their first customers when they dropped the price of the console the first time, for example.
- pay for online; granted, it's the same on PS4 now. But not PC.
- hardware architecture is ugly, and the console is clearly overpriced for what it is.
Could you explain why? In various dark corners of the internet I've seen "XBL vs. PSN" topics and a lot of people say they prefer XBL but don't give a clear explanation why. I've always like PSN, in part at first because it was free, and later because I enjoyed all of the extra games that came with the subscription.
What makes XBL better than PSN in your eyes? Is it the gamerscore, or the personas? Is it Halo?
Removing the requirement entirely or making it free would be the best option, though I doubt that would ever happen. Paying $110 per year for multiplayer on both consoles wouldn't be worth it because I have a limited amount of time and money to play games, and that money would be best put to use somewhere else.
Personally, I think I'm going to wait until the end of the console cycle to pick up the system fairly cheap. I'm already regretting buying my PS4 at launch because I don't find many of the offerings appealing at the moment.
As to what MS can do for me, nothing really. They already undid many of the things I had issues with, and they're trying to win my business. Just don't know what they can do unless they drop the price down to end of console life levels.
As to what MS can do for me, nothing really. They already undid many of the things I had issues with, and they're trying to win my business. Just don't know what they can do unless they drop the price down to end of console life levels.
justsomeguy
Member
"If you want your console to succeed" is an interesting opening to the thread. Define success. Clearly it's losing out to PS4, but it's not a flop either - it had 1st, 2nd and 3rd party support and if you are to believe the pre release rumours it's not being sold at a loss.
So bish (and others) what does "succeed" mean? Can you define it in absolute terms or must it be judged in comparison to other consoles?
Is success a 3:2 ratio vs ps4? Is it outselling wii u? Is it a platform with compelling non-game features that also has a good quality line up? Or is nothing short of winning npd for 12 months in a row sufficient?
Ok lots of questions. My take fwiw (as a Microsoft employee remember) - it's not so much about success as about credibility. The last few days have been painful reading on gaf as the amount of vitriol towards MS has been pretty high (so kudos Bish for trying to start a sensible conversation). It seems that whatever move MS make it will be greeted by scorn and suspicion, old memes and animated gifs. I think that's the challenge that needs to be addressed, and you know what, I just don't know how that's done when so much abuse comes back for every statement or move made. (if I did I'd be a PR guru on megabucks
).
Apology for the drm? No. I personally would have welcomed that plan - I know I'm in a minority but others felt the same - because it opened up some awesome scenarios. I get why it was terrible for some people, but for me it would have been great. I have no idea why it's not brought back as an "opt in" plan - other than the likelyhood of a backlash ("just wait until they make it mandatory"). The problem with it was the utterly terrible way it was messaged - "always online, 24h check in" via leaks and rumours rather than a proper laying out of the benefits (and drawbacks). Hell, if MS announced steam for xbox tomorrow, the world would explode ;-) (and yeah I know they're different schemes).
Back on topic... The way MS can "succeed" (be credible) is to keep pumping out great games IMO. That's the language we all speak and it's what will win through in the end.
So bish (and others) what does "succeed" mean? Can you define it in absolute terms or must it be judged in comparison to other consoles?
Is success a 3:2 ratio vs ps4? Is it outselling wii u? Is it a platform with compelling non-game features that also has a good quality line up? Or is nothing short of winning npd for 12 months in a row sufficient?
Ok lots of questions. My take fwiw (as a Microsoft employee remember) - it's not so much about success as about credibility. The last few days have been painful reading on gaf as the amount of vitriol towards MS has been pretty high (so kudos Bish for trying to start a sensible conversation). It seems that whatever move MS make it will be greeted by scorn and suspicion, old memes and animated gifs. I think that's the challenge that needs to be addressed, and you know what, I just don't know how that's done when so much abuse comes back for every statement or move made. (if I did I'd be a PR guru on megabucks
).Apology for the drm? No. I personally would have welcomed that plan - I know I'm in a minority but others felt the same - because it opened up some awesome scenarios. I get why it was terrible for some people, but for me it would have been great. I have no idea why it's not brought back as an "opt in" plan - other than the likelyhood of a backlash ("just wait until they make it mandatory"). The problem with it was the utterly terrible way it was messaged - "always online, 24h check in" via leaks and rumours rather than a proper laying out of the benefits (and drawbacks). Hell, if MS announced steam for xbox tomorrow, the world would explode ;-) (and yeah I know they're different schemes).
Back on topic... The way MS can "succeed" (be credible) is to keep pumping out great games IMO. That's the language we all speak and it's what will win through in the end.
Portugeezer
Member
I don't even understand why MS are trying to match PS4's price. The hardware is less powerful, the RAM is cheaper and not as fast; everything screams to me like it's a cheaper piece of tech especially now that Kinect is not bundled it.
What the fuck are people paying for exactly that the price on par with PS4? Just seems like MS being greedy in this case, if PS4 is making money at $400, XB1 is making money and then some at $400.
They could probably make it $350 and make profit. Maybe I am being naive, but I have not seen the value to match the PS4 price.
Echoing what others have said, I want a demonstrably long term commitment to improving the scope of the games medium. That means first parties that are allowed to be creative, conjuring up new experiences and charting new territories of what games can engender. The games industry is contracting and only creating shooters, sports and racing games, i.e. clamping down on the male 12-24 demographic, is only speeding up this decline. Stop being the problem, work towards a sustainable future. Focus on the artistic merit of things that you produce.
Kinect was a good idea really, it's just that I don't want a megacorporation's camera in my living room. Especially one that seems more interested in using it for data mining than new game experiences. Ditching Kinect however gave entirely the wrong message. It doesn't matter to me that Xbox One is less powerful, it matters that it doesn't have any identity.
Kinect was a good idea really, it's just that I don't want a megacorporation's camera in my living room. Especially one that seems more interested in using it for data mining than new game experiences. Ditching Kinect however gave entirely the wrong message. It doesn't matter to me that Xbox One is less powerful, it matters that it doesn't have any identity.
I own both. The systems have shown me a lot of games I want now or in the future. But unlike with the 360, the XBO is not my primary system.
I don't care for the OS and games seem to perform better on the PS4.
But that could change with OS updates and developers learning tricks with the hardware.
I don't care for the OS and games seem to perform better on the PS4.
But that could change with OS updates and developers learning tricks with the hardware.
As someone who had both a 360 and PS3 last gen, my preferred console was the 360.
I bought a 360 at launch, and a PS3 at launch. The PS3 was expensive, but it was slightly more powerful than the 360, had amazing first party potential given the track record of the PS2, but most importantly it had a BluRay player.
All I see with the XBone are a potential few interesting first party games. It's a less powerful console that so far plays all cross-gen games worse than the PS4, and offers absolutely nothing unique otherwise.
I have almost zero interest in buying one in the near future.
What could sway me would be another $100 off the price and at least 5 must-have first party games that will never come out on PC or PS4.
I bought a 360 at launch, and a PS3 at launch. The PS3 was expensive, but it was slightly more powerful than the 360, had amazing first party potential given the track record of the PS2, but most importantly it had a BluRay player.
All I see with the XBone are a potential few interesting first party games. It's a less powerful console that so far plays all cross-gen games worse than the PS4, and offers absolutely nothing unique otherwise.
I have almost zero interest in buying one in the near future.
What could sway me would be another $100 off the price and at least 5 must-have first party games that will never come out on PC or PS4.
I had a 360 that I played to death. It feels like they're just doing the same thing again with the One but worse.
Right now I have a great gaming PC, both current handhelds, a WiiU and a PS4. Even though the 360 is my favorite console ever I can't see myself buying a One, I'd rather buy a 360 again!
Their vision for the One as I understand it is so uninteresting IMO. TV, Stream video files, Kinect, that room thing, Tomb Raider exclusive and so on is stuff I'm not interested in or can already do with other hardware like my TV.
To summarize: it's in my opinion the most uninteresting piece of gaming hardware since the N64, which is the only other big console I've never owned.
As improvements go, make the whole unit much smaller, make it B/C with at least 360 XBLA games and uh, nope, I've got nothing more. I can't even imagine what they could do to make in attractive to me.
Right now I have a great gaming PC, both current handhelds, a WiiU and a PS4. Even though the 360 is my favorite console ever I can't see myself buying a One, I'd rather buy a 360 again!
Their vision for the One as I understand it is so uninteresting IMO. TV, Stream video files, Kinect, that room thing, Tomb Raider exclusive and so on is stuff I'm not interested in or can already do with other hardware like my TV.
To summarize: it's in my opinion the most uninteresting piece of gaming hardware since the N64, which is the only other big console I've never owned.
As improvements go, make the whole unit much smaller, make it B/C with at least 360 XBLA games and uh, nope, I've got nothing more. I can't even imagine what they could do to make in attractive to me.
Microsoft already:
If all of those had been in place before last November there would have been a very real chance that I would have simply pre-ordered both an Xbox One and a Playstation 4 in 2013, but that didn't happen, so only the Playstation 4 got my pre-order.
As it stands now, I have a PC, a Playstation 4, a Vita, a Playstation 3, and an Xbox 360. At some point, I could see myself buying an Xbox One but there's nothing terribly compelling driving me to do it right now. Between all of my systems I have an overwhelming number of great games to play, I'm not looking forward to renewing my XBL Gold account in November, and I don't really have room for a very large new console under my TV.
But, anyway, to answer the question:
The one thing that Microsoft could do, today, to get me to buy an Xbox One is make it fully backwards-compatible with my Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 was my favorite Gen 7 console and the one which I currently own the largest number of physical and digital games for.
The Xbox One is currently a hypervisor running two different OS VMs, correct? Couldn't Microsoft write a VM image to run Xbox 360 games?
- Removed the insane 24-hour check-in DRM.
- Unbundled Kinect
- Dropped the price to $400
If all of those had been in place before last November there would have been a very real chance that I would have simply pre-ordered both an Xbox One and a Playstation 4 in 2013, but that didn't happen, so only the Playstation 4 got my pre-order.
As it stands now, I have a PC, a Playstation 4, a Vita, a Playstation 3, and an Xbox 360. At some point, I could see myself buying an Xbox One but there's nothing terribly compelling driving me to do it right now. Between all of my systems I have an overwhelming number of great games to play, I'm not looking forward to renewing my XBL Gold account in November, and I don't really have room for a very large new console under my TV.
But, anyway, to answer the question:
The one thing that Microsoft could do, today, to get me to buy an Xbox One is make it fully backwards-compatible with my Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 was my favorite Gen 7 console and the one which I currently own the largest number of physical and digital games for.
The Xbox One is currently a hypervisor running two different OS VMs, correct? Couldn't Microsoft write a VM image to run Xbox 360 games?
To me, Microsoft's problem is completely in their messaging. They speak to me as if I'm sat in a boardroom with their marketing team; so much of their language is couched in the kind of phrases I hear all day at work (I'm a lawyer) - bloated, distended sentences full of unnecessary words and hip, new neologisms to replace content.
They've woefully misjudged just how literate the 'core' gaming consumer is. It's frustrating - and I say this as a Sony fangirl - to see a company stumble so blatantly and so frequently over and over again in delivering what could be a competent product.
That's my moan.
As for solutions, Microsoft really need to work on promoting diversity in their games. I don't mean "more women in gaming"; I mean the types of experience. To my mind the Xbox is the place where 13-year old American boys play Call of Duty every night and call everybody "fag", while Sony is offering a diverse set of experiences for adults - Flower, The Last of Us, Journey, The Witness, No Man's Sky and so on. I'm aware that the Xbox does have a growing cadre of impressive and interesting smaller-budget games but the messaging is drowned out between the bad press and the lucrative Call of Duty tie-ins. I would therefore suggest that they work harder on this; drop the business-speak. We are not shareholders and we are just about the most informed consumers on the market. Be honest and direct and just show the games. Do some bloody outreach; not with your slick marketing directors who shine at investors' meetings but flounder when speaking to consumers but with developers, community managers; people who are passionate about the content and actually have real, relatable experience of it.
I'd like there to be more competition but I do wonder whether it's gone a bit too far now. Microsoft seems to be a company without a real purpose at the moment, perhaps even where Sony was before it began divesting large chunks of the company and scaling down. I think the answer would be to scale back the noise around the Xbox and for them to demonstrate some faith in the product themselves. As it is, they almost seem ashamed of it.
I don't have enough time as it is to game, but for me to get one at the tail end of the gen,
Focus on actual first party studios. Don't fund third party developers, offer to fully purchase them. Doing so shows actual long term commitment to exclusive games, not a hole filler for a certain quarter.
Muzzle your PR department, don't promote them (Greenberg, Medhi).
End the backwards parity clause.
Simply, just stop the bullshit.
Focus on actual first party studios. Don't fund third party developers, offer to fully purchase them. Doing so shows actual long term commitment to exclusive games, not a hole filler for a certain quarter.
Muzzle your PR department, don't promote them (Greenberg, Medhi).
End the backwards parity clause.
Simply, just stop the bullshit.
CambriaRising
Member
This is an amazing post that also highlights a lot of my current issues. Everything about the Xbox brand has screamed "facade" to me since around the time they increased the XBL price. I stopped paying for XBL that day, and have since never resubscribed. Like you said, they need to start being genuine and honest with not only consumers, but indie devs alike. The parity clause is the single worst thing they have done to themselves in terms of "supporting" indies. It benefits no one, not consumers, not the developers, and not even them when it comes right down to it.
Microsoft earned their reputation and I, and many others will not be forgetting what they tried to pull with the DRM for a very long time. I truly do not believe at this point that the system will not re-emerge with the next Xbox, if not sooner in another form. It may not keep me from buying the console in a few years, but they have a long way to go before I feel comfortable supporting their device. The console being so weak and not having the better multi-platform games because of this only makes it easier.
For sure, here in the UK the press had pretty hard hitting articles about the DRM and the others negative reactions after E3. This stigma is still here today, I mean I work in a store which sells both consoles and I still hear "It doesn't allow traded games" or "its always online" especially true from parents at Christmas. It was very similar to when the Wii U launched and people were buying the Wii U games for their Wii.
Darkstorne
Member
Exclusive IP that makes sense.
Rise of the Tomb Raider, a sequel to a great reboot that sold best on PlayStation platforms, announced months ago and assumed to be multi-plat (pre-orders being taken for PC and PS4), does not make sense. Maybe if it had been announced as exclusive with the reveal at E3. Maybe. But still not cool. That would be like Sony money-hatting Dragon Age from out of nowhere to be a PS4 exclusive - it's not going to be good for the core fans of the series, so it just flat out shouldn't happen. Gamers have to come first.
Crackdown 3 makes sense. Funding a sequel to something like Eternal Darkness that would never be made without an exclusivity deal would make sense. Team up with Ubisoft for an exclusive AAA Might and Magic game in the vein of The Elder Scrolls or something. That would be awesome - bringing unique games to the table that benefit gamers. The Tomb Raider deal meant no change to Xbox One owners, they still play the game they knew they were getting anyway, and only meant bad news for everyone else.
Focus on funding great exclusive games for the Xbox One, and I'll be there. Funding does not mean the same thing as "buying exclusivity rights to already announced, multi-plat games".
Rise of the Tomb Raider, a sequel to a great reboot that sold best on PlayStation platforms, announced months ago and assumed to be multi-plat (pre-orders being taken for PC and PS4), does not make sense. Maybe if it had been announced as exclusive with the reveal at E3. Maybe. But still not cool. That would be like Sony money-hatting Dragon Age from out of nowhere to be a PS4 exclusive - it's not going to be good for the core fans of the series, so it just flat out shouldn't happen. Gamers have to come first.
Crackdown 3 makes sense. Funding a sequel to something like Eternal Darkness that would never be made without an exclusivity deal would make sense. Team up with Ubisoft for an exclusive AAA Might and Magic game in the vein of The Elder Scrolls or something. That would be awesome - bringing unique games to the table that benefit gamers. The Tomb Raider deal meant no change to Xbox One owners, they still play the game they knew they were getting anyway, and only meant bad news for everyone else.
Focus on funding great exclusive games for the Xbox One, and I'll be there. Funding does not mean the same thing as "buying exclusivity rights to already announced, multi-plat games".
BananasWithGuns
Member
As a very satisfied Xbox One owner I think, at this point, Microsoft just needs to stay the course. Over the past 8-10 months they've done so much to right the ship and make the Xbox One much more appealing as a games console.
I firmly believe that Microsoft is on the right track as of now. They still have obstacles in front of them but I think if they continue to do well with system updates, further improve their relationship with indies and continue their focus on games over TV and entertainment then I'm certain the console will be in a great position for the next several years.
So yeah, I think the best way to change some of the dialogue around Xbox One is to just continue doing what they do well. I'm sure it sounds like common sense but great system support, great indie support and great games will be the recipe to making Xbox One successful. Seems easy enough but it'll up to Microsoft to really invest in those pillars and I have faith that they will do so over the next several years.
I firmly believe that Microsoft is on the right track as of now. They still have obstacles in front of them but I think if they continue to do well with system updates, further improve their relationship with indies and continue their focus on games over TV and entertainment then I'm certain the console will be in a great position for the next several years.
So yeah, I think the best way to change some of the dialogue around Xbox One is to just continue doing what they do well. I'm sure it sounds like common sense but great system support, great indie support and great games will be the recipe to making Xbox One successful. Seems easy enough but it'll up to Microsoft to really invest in those pillars and I have faith that they will do so over the next several years.
Honestly, I don't think they really have much hope. Whether you liked it or not (and obviously most didn't), their original plan was unique and clearly had a lot of time, intent, and design behind it (and was well liked internally from what I've heard, and a lot of people inside MS wish they had stuck to their guns). Instead, they trashed all of that and rapidly released essentially a stripped down system that is widely held to be inferior to the PS4, initially at a higher price. Maybe their original plan wouldn't have worked, but it would have been potentially different. Now they seem to just be scrambling to stay above water with more of the same. Perhaps we'll see another massive price drop that will encourage sales, and it's not like being number two with decent sales is terrible, but at this point, it seems too late. Personally, I suspect they are already working on another system that will be more akin to what they originally announced for the One, but in a much more palatable fashion.
I promised myself I wouldn't buy an Xbone until the removed their DRM and other bullshit policies. And since that's already happened, I'm just waiting for more exclusive games, that I'm interested in, to get announced alongside a lower price. I can't justify paying $400+ for a system just for Sunset Overdrive and the Halo Collection alone. Not to mention I already have a PC for multiplatform games so I wouldn't buy those on the Xbone either.
1. Lower the price tag. I am sorry Microsoft, I know your console is underpowered. I won't pay $399 to get a vastly inferior GPU. I can get better experiences on my PC or PS4. $50 less would be a good start and make up for it.
2. Appealing Exclusives. Really... what's out for the One that's not out on PC or timed exclusive? Sunset looks great but not enough. Halo? Played them all, definitely waiting for Guardians and GoW but what else is coming exclusive aside from that? The list is small compared when I can get amazing first party games and much better third party games on PS4 or PC. I have no incentive to buy it right now.
Kinect-less is a great step. Price is lowered and they seem to be investing in games now, but those will not come out for at least 2 years. Mattick really hurt the Xbox brand so badly, its gonna reel in pain and take a while to recover. As for the power department... I own a WiiU. I know its weaker, but the exclusive it has are the best of this gen by far right now. Just bring high quality, fun games. Try new stuff, not only shooters. Differentiate!
I am eventually gonna get one, as I did past-gen when I got the PS3 a few years after launch, but right now its so unappealing to me when I have so many wider, and better choices.
2. Appealing Exclusives. Really... what's out for the One that's not out on PC or timed exclusive? Sunset looks great but not enough. Halo? Played them all, definitely waiting for Guardians and GoW but what else is coming exclusive aside from that? The list is small compared when I can get amazing first party games and much better third party games on PS4 or PC. I have no incentive to buy it right now.
Kinect-less is a great step. Price is lowered and they seem to be investing in games now, but those will not come out for at least 2 years. Mattick really hurt the Xbox brand so badly, its gonna reel in pain and take a while to recover. As for the power department... I own a WiiU. I know its weaker, but the exclusive it has are the best of this gen by far right now. Just bring high quality, fun games. Try new stuff, not only shooters. Differentiate!
I am eventually gonna get one, as I did past-gen when I got the PS3 a few years after launch, but right now its so unappealing to me when I have so many wider, and better choices.
I might get a Xbone at some point, it just won't be anytime soon. They really put me off with all the always online DRM they fixed only after people started a campaign for it. The price is also a factor, but that applies to both right now, I just can't spend $400 on something that is already outclassed by my PC.
Having a somewhat beefy gaming PC, I get most of the same games that Sony and Microsoft put out anyway so I don't see a need for them atm. I do think I'm going to get a WiiU only for the fact that it's the only place to get Nintendo games.
Having a somewhat beefy gaming PC, I get most of the same games that Sony and Microsoft put out anyway so I don't see a need for them atm. I do think I'm going to get a WiiU only for the fact that it's the only place to get Nintendo games.
Doctor_Thomas
Member
I simply don't trust Microsoft on two fronts
They consistantly fail on the games front. A strong start last gen, the reason I got one, turned to the thing just being redundant. I never cared for the Halo games, Gears was decent, I stopped Forza when GT5 finally came out and Fable continually disappoints. That WAS Microsoft's line up. Year after year, the bone they threw once Kinect got a little traction.
This gen? Already signs of the same. The "exclusive well" drying up as games go multiplatform and developers rush to justify their game on the lowest selling, poorest performing hardware. Paying to keep games off other platforms. Their first party doesn't exist.
Microsoft showed their hand with the XB1. This is their end game and until the current blood, Spencer included, move on, the shadows of Mattrick and Ballmer are still the end goal here. There were no "mixed messages", just intentionally deceptive ones. I fear that the XB1 vision will take off. I cannot support a company that pushes it.
The comparisons in games haven't helped.
They consistantly fail on the games front. A strong start last gen, the reason I got one, turned to the thing just being redundant. I never cared for the Halo games, Gears was decent, I stopped Forza when GT5 finally came out and Fable continually disappoints. That WAS Microsoft's line up. Year after year, the bone they threw once Kinect got a little traction.
This gen? Already signs of the same. The "exclusive well" drying up as games go multiplatform and developers rush to justify their game on the lowest selling, poorest performing hardware. Paying to keep games off other platforms. Their first party doesn't exist.
Microsoft showed their hand with the XB1. This is their end game and until the current blood, Spencer included, move on, the shadows of Mattrick and Ballmer are still the end goal here. There were no "mixed messages", just intentionally deceptive ones. I fear that the XB1 vision will take off. I cannot support a company that pushes it.
The comparisons in games haven't helped.
Well, for me personally, even just one subscription is "troublesome" - and it's more of a matter of principle. But I think even for normal people, paying two monthly fees for essentially the same thing in a different guise might be too much - regardless of how small (or large) that payment is.
I think this is doubly true in Europe, where people seem generally more wary of recurring payments in my experience.
I realize all that. And I think it's disgusting. Then again, I guess I have a uniquely low tolerance for this tie-in bullshit. I'm still pissed off at google for forcing me to connect my youtube and google accounts - and they don't even want me to pay anything.
I just hope Gabe lives forever.
ChawlieTheFair
pip pip cheerio you slags!
For me personally it's simply because they are not offering many exclusive reasons for me to want to get an XB1. Obviously once their killer app comes out (and I don't think Halo 5 will be said app) I think it's likely I will get one, even if it is only one game. Getting exclusives like ROTR and other big, wide appealing franchises/games like that I think are more likely to sell their system than any apology of change of policy.
The exclusive franchises that sold 360 (gears, fable, halo) don't appeal to me as much as Uncharted, KZ, and Resistance do. Don't exactly know why, but they just don't.
Edit: Thinking back to e3, I can't even think of a single exclusive from MS that has me interested. Crackdown doesn't do anything for me, and while Sunset overdrive looks fun, I don't think it's a killer app.
Double edit: Don't care about apologies, only care about getting good games that I find appealing, so I guess a huge big massive yes to the more funding for first party.
The exclusive franchises that sold 360 (gears, fable, halo) don't appeal to me as much as Uncharted, KZ, and Resistance do. Don't exactly know why, but they just don't.
Edit: Thinking back to e3, I can't even think of a single exclusive from MS that has me interested. Crackdown doesn't do anything for me, and while Sunset overdrive looks fun, I don't think it's a killer app.
Double edit: Don't care about apologies, only care about getting good games that I find appealing, so I guess a huge big massive yes to the more funding for first party.
KiefbladeMaster
Member
Honestly, I might consider one if the software were there. As it stands, they have no IP's I am interested in other than Sunset Overdrive and one game is not enough for me to purchase a console. So, yeah, focus on first party stuff. (A price drop wouldn't hurt, either. $300 without Kinect or any games would probably get me going.)
BloodMoney
Banned
All MS needs to do is cultivate their internal studios. They need solid 1st party offerings... not just money hat 3rd party purchases. I think part of the reason they are in their current situation is the lackluster 1st party offerings towards the end of the 360's life cycle. Some of Sony's best first party games came at the end of the generation. That investment has paid off as we transition to the new generation.
breakfuss
Member
lol @ the thread title.
Honestly, I never lost my mind like most of the crazies who take shit too seriously. None of MSFT's moves ever struck me as "nefarious" or anti-consumer. Misguided, perhaps. They don't owe anyone apology, IMO. They had a vision and gamers weren't receptive. Simple as that.
That being said, as a PS4 owner I currently can't justify it, especially with the additional Gold subscription. If by holiday 2015 their OS is still ahead (DLNA, media apps) I'd probably start taking a closer look. A $50 wouldn't hurt either. Oh, and, if they restored Rare to its former glory I wouldn't think twice. Out of all the criticisms GAF throws at them the dearth of first party IP is easily the most accurate. They really need to do something about that.
Honestly, I never lost my mind like most of the crazies who take shit too seriously. None of MSFT's moves ever struck me as "nefarious" or anti-consumer. Misguided, perhaps. They don't owe anyone apology, IMO. They had a vision and gamers weren't receptive. Simple as that.
That being said, as a PS4 owner I currently can't justify it, especially with the additional Gold subscription. If by holiday 2015 their OS is still ahead (DLNA, media apps) I'd probably start taking a closer look. A $50 wouldn't hurt either. Oh, and, if they restored Rare to its former glory I wouldn't think twice. Out of all the criticisms GAF throws at them the dearth of first party IP is easily the most accurate. They really need to do something about that.
Reposted from the tomb raider thread.
Reposted from the tomb raider thread.
Before I begin my opinion.
This is currently my household:
I don't know how or why. But they haven't managed to kill each other yet, but I am ready at anytime to get in between them an break them up if it does kick off.
I have grown up and have been lucky enough to have a lot of consoles in my childhood, I have owned pretty much every single console under the sun since the atari 2600. Although I did miss out on the nes and snes as my parents were big into Sega.
I remember first playing games such as Ninja Golf, I was probably about 4 at the time so didn't really get it, but the bright lights and colours dazzled me, and then one day out of no where I had a Sega Megadrive 16bt arrive with Sonic, italia 90, super bikes, and some weird bejewelled/tetris game I cannot remember. from there I would love christmas and birthdays as I would get new games such as sonic 2 Jurassic park, Jurassic park lost world, sonic and knuckles, sonic 3, FIFA 95 ( best fifa ever IMO).
Then one day my dad came home was really excited and said LOOK I have something awesome, and it was a playstation I was like what? A playstation what's that, So I nervously opened the box and played I think it was croc or something, anyway I went through the playstation age and forgot quite a bit about my megadrive as I was just shocked w ith the controller, the graphics and just how ridiculously dated it made the sega megadrive look. I never owned a Saturn and I really wished I did.
Anyways after that I owned the following:
Gameboy
Gameboy colour
Game gear
N64
dreamcast
ps2
xbox
ps3
xbox 360
Wii
Gameboy advanced
PSP
nintendo DS
Nintendo 3DS
Vita
Xbox one
WiiU
PS4
6 different gaming PC's
I get that people have a right to be mad that games aren't coming to the other consoles,
As to be honest it does suck, but that's where I find the best part of gaming, I love the fact that each console in it's own special way brings something unique to the table.
I have always grown up with what I would like to call "gaming diversity" I was never made to be in a single camp and be a hardcore fan boy, a lot of the consoles I did get as presents from my parents, but as soon as I turned 14 I started doing a paper route so I could then buy my own, I actually did double routes earning £40 a week so I could save up for the orginal xbox when it came out and did the same for the ps2, since I now work I do spend a lot of my disposable income on consoles and other bits and pieces because I absolutely love gaming.
Anyway my point is, yes it does suck to see that one console is getting a game that the others aren't but honestly now, if every console was the same and did exactly the same and played the same games and did every single thing from os to power usage the same, where would the fun be in gaming? where would the innovation come from?
It would pretty much kill gaming off, Last gen the ps3 even though it was more powerful made some pretty horrible decisions and made it very hard for devs to full make the best out of the system. Because that was "Arrogant Sony" remember them guys after the ps2 they were pretty bad.
Now on the flip side, the xbox 360 to many was the winner of the last gen even if the ps3 did have a strong finish it didn't win the generation for quite a number of reasons that have been argued to death so forgive me for skipping. We are now seeing a Microsoft that were arrogant tried to radically change the way we were supposed to be, but a lot of those changes that either scared or angered the gamers are now gone, we are seeing a real focus on games for the console which I personally find pretty darn exciting.
I am not a PR agent, I am a gamer, who loves his games.
Peace.
Reposted from the tomb raider thread.
blazeuk
Member
I already own the console, so there is no need to convince me however I think they're going to struggle because of the power difference, they need to take focus away from that by offering exclusive titles and a better OS.
Creating an excellent media centre environment would definitely help and it appears as if that's a route they're looking to take with opening up a lot more file type support, they should go further and create a library system similar to XBMC, fully pursue creating the best media centre system out there, not only would they be able to encourage that movie enthusiast crowd over but it'd help with bridging that gap between console and tv that they seem to be going for (although only very quietly now).
Their online ecosystem is already very good, but why not attempt to open up tournaments with prizes to the masses for example? There's a lot more they could be doing with their online services, they were in a great place when they were offering stuff like 1vs100, I'd rather they focused on those sort of ideas instead of them creating social activity feeds, it's fine but I personally don't believe it's something many will use enough to have any sort of major development focus on it.
As for exclusive titles, buying up third party titles works to a point but it also brings a lot of negativity with it (not fully justified for me given they all do the same thing and don't get nearly as much hate for it), if they want to come out of it as positively as possible they're going to need to invest in first party titles, creating new IP's etc. If they want to win over a smaller percentage of "hardcore" gamers then investing in projects like Shenmue for example would go towards creating a better buzz about the console for sure, they might not be huge system sellers in itself but there would be plenty of positivity on the internet about those kind of projects that gamers want to see happen.
It seems somewhat unfair to single MS out for some of those things since Sony should also be improving their console that way too, however it is MS who need the help selling their console right now.
Creating an excellent media centre environment would definitely help and it appears as if that's a route they're looking to take with opening up a lot more file type support, they should go further and create a library system similar to XBMC, fully pursue creating the best media centre system out there, not only would they be able to encourage that movie enthusiast crowd over but it'd help with bridging that gap between console and tv that they seem to be going for (although only very quietly now).
Their online ecosystem is already very good, but why not attempt to open up tournaments with prizes to the masses for example? There's a lot more they could be doing with their online services, they were in a great place when they were offering stuff like 1vs100, I'd rather they focused on those sort of ideas instead of them creating social activity feeds, it's fine but I personally don't believe it's something many will use enough to have any sort of major development focus on it.
As for exclusive titles, buying up third party titles works to a point but it also brings a lot of negativity with it (not fully justified for me given they all do the same thing and don't get nearly as much hate for it), if they want to come out of it as positively as possible they're going to need to invest in first party titles, creating new IP's etc. If they want to win over a smaller percentage of "hardcore" gamers then investing in projects like Shenmue for example would go towards creating a better buzz about the console for sure, they might not be huge system sellers in itself but there would be plenty of positivity on the internet about those kind of projects that gamers want to see happen.
It seems somewhat unfair to single MS out for some of those things since Sony should also be improving their console that way too, however it is MS who need the help selling their console right now.
immortal-joe
Member
Big yes to the first, please to the second.
I acknowledge that corporate apologies are tough to stomach for said corporations, but many have done it before, and I feel MS owes us that after what they tried to pull (including the manner through which they tried to pull it off).
Instead, they stuck to their bullshit "poor communication" explanation, acting like their actual plan was not the problem.
I honestly have no idea.
Software is the obvious answer I guess. I stronger, consistent and varied first party/exclusive lineup. It was easy to jump into the X360. Dead Rising was something different, so was Gears of War at the time. The promise of Rare and Mistwalker games helped out too.
I don't get that feeling with the Xbone at all at this point. Sunset Overdrive tickles my interests a little, but that's it. Lot's of sequels and retreats otherwise and stunts like with the Tomb Raider weaves a web of uncertainity over the software future, which makes it hard to invest into the console.
That would be a start at least, but at this point, since I game much less these days, probably wouldn't be enough for me.
Software is the obvious answer I guess. I stronger, consistent and varied first party/exclusive lineup. It was easy to jump into the X360. Dead Rising was something different, so was Gears of War at the time. The promise of Rare and Mistwalker games helped out too.
I don't get that feeling with the Xbone at all at this point. Sunset Overdrive tickles my interests a little, but that's it. Lot's of sequels and retreats otherwise and stunts like with the Tomb Raider weaves a web of uncertainity over the software future, which makes it hard to invest into the console.
That would be a start at least, but at this point, since I game much less these days, probably wouldn't be enough for me.
Abstruse Moose
Member
1. It's known to be less powerful than the PS4, therefore it needs to cost less. No ifs, ands, or buts.
2. PR talk and buzzwords are frankly insulting, needs to stop.
3. Exclusive 1st party games. Not timed exclusive or anything like that. The more the better.
Do those 3 things and Xbox will flourish.
2. PR talk and buzzwords are frankly insulting, needs to stop.
3. Exclusive 1st party games. Not timed exclusive or anything like that. The more the better.
Do those 3 things and Xbox will flourish.
1) For me, they'd have to have about (5) AAA 1st party single-player games in the pipeline that I know I want to play. Their AAA release pipeline of exclusives is not enough for me to get one now. To elaborate, they need to invest much more strongly in their 1st party studios and do so in traditional genres. I would love to see another Lost Odyssey or Blue Dragon or Gears of War but considering nothing like that is even announced yet, I wouldn't expect anything like this to come out until ~2016. The price of the box will certainly come down by then. Sunset Overdrive looks really cool but that's the only really standout Xbox One title that has my attention right now.
2) On principal, I don't like their business practice of money-hatting 3rd party exclusive games (Tomb Raider). I couldn't care less for 3rd party exclusive DLC (rarely a good value compared to the cost of the original game) or timed exclusive DLC (I don't have a lot of time to play games so I rarely get them on release day anyway). To me, this just smacks of "we don't know what to do with our money creatively so we'll pay someone else to do something interesting." See also: #1
3) They need to deal with the fact that their machine is comparable but not superior to the PS4's hardware and they are already significantly behind. They need to get the price down to a level consistently below the PS4. This would be crucial for a significant shift in demand away from the PS4.
4) Their platform-holder policies making them less attractive to indies. For example, their policies effectively or explicitly ban cross-platform play with the PC and that is hurting them with indie development. This needs to change ASAP.
They've been on the market for almost a year and they have to deal with problems 1 to 2 years in the making. If they turn it around, it will be very slowly.
2) On principal, I don't like their business practice of money-hatting 3rd party exclusive games (Tomb Raider). I couldn't care less for 3rd party exclusive DLC (rarely a good value compared to the cost of the original game) or timed exclusive DLC (I don't have a lot of time to play games so I rarely get them on release day anyway). To me, this just smacks of "we don't know what to do with our money creatively so we'll pay someone else to do something interesting." See also: #1
3) They need to deal with the fact that their machine is comparable but not superior to the PS4's hardware and they are already significantly behind. They need to get the price down to a level consistently below the PS4. This would be crucial for a significant shift in demand away from the PS4.
4) Their platform-holder policies making them less attractive to indies. For example, their policies effectively or explicitly ban cross-platform play with the PC and that is hurting them with indie development. This needs to change ASAP.
They've been on the market for almost a year and they have to deal with problems 1 to 2 years in the making. If they turn it around, it will be very slowly.
GeordieMark
Member
I love games and will always buy whatever consoles are available so that I can play as many games as possible. MS doesn't have to do anything to win me over. I loved my 360 last gen, and want to play some of the exclusive franchises on a newer machine.
I think MS just need to continue on the path they are on currently. Keep the games coming and the One will be fine. The PS4 is always going to be the more powerful machine so MS needs to differentiate by having the better software and experience. The One OS is far more 'next gen' than the PS4 OS in my opinion, and most people who have seen mine in action think it's a pretty cool toy.
The One may be behind the PS4 in terms of sales but it's still doing pretty well and I think a lot of the drama around it on GAF and other games forums is a bit OTT.
I wish gamers could get past the thinking in terms of a winner and a loser when it comes to consoles. If you really love games, it's in your interest for all of the big 3 to thrive so that they push each other to innovate. MS pulling out of the console business would be a very bad thing in my opinion.
I think MS just need to continue on the path they are on currently. Keep the games coming and the One will be fine. The PS4 is always going to be the more powerful machine so MS needs to differentiate by having the better software and experience. The One OS is far more 'next gen' than the PS4 OS in my opinion, and most people who have seen mine in action think it's a pretty cool toy.
The One may be behind the PS4 in terms of sales but it's still doing pretty well and I think a lot of the drama around it on GAF and other games forums is a bit OTT.
I wish gamers could get past the thinking in terms of a winner and a loser when it comes to consoles. If you really love games, it's in your interest for all of the big 3 to thrive so that they push each other to innovate. MS pulling out of the console business would be a very bad thing in my opinion.
AyaisMUsikWhore
Member
Current owner.
I think Microsoft has a cutting edge factor that can naturally drag in the average consumer. The problem is their message. As with the Xbox brand, I don't feel like they do much to shake off the perception that it's an all bro bro, male all system.
Hear me out.
For years now, the Xbox has a very very lucrative business towards a heavy male audience. It doesn't have a warm and welcoming library, that it puts upfront, of a variety of non AAA releases that very inviting to all genders. It's always something harden, about strength and power. My thing is, variety is what's needs to show their diversity between audiences. The games that are available now are just what you would typically expect of Microsoft. I wish they would become more creative with their studios and sell an all rounded system that doesn't appeal to one audience. The starts with using their resources to test those ideals. We've had generations of the same rinse and repeat shooter, sports, assassin's and secret agents, etc etc. Those are cool but there needs to be some lighter stuff. I would like to see that.
I think Microsoft has a cutting edge factor that can naturally drag in the average consumer. The problem is their message. As with the Xbox brand, I don't feel like they do much to shake off the perception that it's an all bro bro, male all system.
Hear me out.
For years now, the Xbox has a very very lucrative business towards a heavy male audience. It doesn't have a warm and welcoming library, that it puts upfront, of a variety of non AAA releases that very inviting to all genders. It's always something harden, about strength and power. My thing is, variety is what's needs to show their diversity between audiences. The games that are available now are just what you would typically expect of Microsoft. I wish they would become more creative with their studios and sell an all rounded system that doesn't appeal to one audience. The starts with using their resources to test those ideals. We've had generations of the same rinse and repeat shooter, sports, assassin's and secret agents, etc etc. Those are cool but there needs to be some lighter stuff. I would like to see that.
Wolfgunblood Garopa
Member
I don't think perception will change, but hopefully that means a legitimate underdog console that will go in a different direction from the PS4, and actually have a different experience. That being said, with MCC they do have the most appealing new coat of paint game that seems to be a thing.
Ol No Bones
Banned
Wow this thread is really great. Its a breath of fresh to discuss these consoles without the common snarky posts infesting.
I would like to echo the price of subscription. Its becoming a problem for my wife to subscribe for both consoles and a price reduction on the sub might be nice.
I would like to echo the price of subscription. Its becoming a problem for my wife to subscribe for both consoles and a price reduction on the sub might be nice.
I do not see it as a xbone problem. It a MS gaming div problem. No PR message is going to change it.
First step is making PC on par with xbone. Every first party game should be released across both platforms. No reason to treat the PC gamers as red-headed step children.
YOU SHOULD EVER PAY MONEY TO KEEP GAMES OFF THE PC!
Second step Embrace PC gaming. Take control of the PC gaming market from steam. This does not mean lock out steam or anything evil. It mean porting xbox dashboard to windows but do not force everyone who wants to play xbox/pc games on PC into that dashboard like metro.... Since xbox is already running windows it shouldnt be impossible. Make the xbone the "steam box." You have to make people want into the system not force...
Third Step. Invest in first party teams and do let the teams do something other than one game forever. Forza team, gears, team halo team......etc.
4th step "end game" Merge xbox and PC gaming into one platform and OS. Xbox is now the "retail box" and partner or DIY can build "xbox PC." All running one OS and can run the same code. This is backward comp with all x86 windows games in the past.
First step is making PC on par with xbone. Every first party game should be released across both platforms. No reason to treat the PC gamers as red-headed step children.
YOU SHOULD EVER PAY MONEY TO KEEP GAMES OFF THE PC!
Second step Embrace PC gaming. Take control of the PC gaming market from steam. This does not mean lock out steam or anything evil. It mean porting xbox dashboard to windows but do not force everyone who wants to play xbox/pc games on PC into that dashboard like metro.... Since xbox is already running windows it shouldnt be impossible. Make the xbone the "steam box." You have to make people want into the system not force...
Third Step. Invest in first party teams and do let the teams do something other than one game forever. Forza team, gears, team halo team......etc.
4th step "end game" Merge xbox and PC gaming into one platform and OS. Xbox is now the "retail box" and partner or DIY can build "xbox PC." All running one OS and can run the same code. This is backward comp with all x86 windows games in the past.
TheOctodad
Member
Exactly. Even though I have the money, $400 just seems like too much to me for a secondary console. $300 would get me thinking, but I'm not going to even consider it until then.
Corleth the Fey
Member
All I ever wanted was a worthy successor to the 360. IE the best place to play multi plats.
Microsofts original pitch for the Xbox One fell flat on its face. They have since, sincerely or not - you decide - brought the message back round to the console being at last a sequel to the 360.
Alas, the Xbox One's fate as the best place to play multi plats was sealed before a single machine rolled off the production line. PS4 with its not inconsiderable power advantage, has them pinned down and out for the rest of the gen.
I'm just not interested in it at all as anything more than an possible end of gen exclusive and curio round up now. See you in 5 years Microsoft.
Microsofts original pitch for the Xbox One fell flat on its face. They have since, sincerely or not - you decide - brought the message back round to the console being at last a sequel to the 360.
Alas, the Xbox One's fate as the best place to play multi plats was sealed before a single machine rolled off the production line. PS4 with its not inconsiderable power advantage, has them pinned down and out for the rest of the gen.
I'm just not interested in it at all as anything more than an possible end of gen exclusive and curio round up now. See you in 5 years Microsoft.
BlazingDarkness
Member
For me the issue is that Microsoft just do not offer the breadth or depth of a software library that Sony does. This was the case with the Xbox, 360, and such is the indication going forward with the One.
Furthermore, I'm fairly cynical of their attempts to branch outside of their strengths (the US market, shooters, sports games, racers) because this has largely consisted of either buying up third party content, or short-lived internal projects that ultimately are not cultivated or given enough focus within their software strategy, both of which do not enrich and revolutionize the industry in ways that Sony's and Nintendo's software does. Microsoft are very good at doing what is popular very well, and not so good at pushing the industry into new directions.
Ultimately, when the bigwigs at Microsoft sat down and decided who their ideal customer was, and thus which demographic to strategize their software towards, that customer just wasn't me, and it never will be. We saw a shift of the nature of this ideal customer with the introduction of Kinect last generation, as Microsoft wanted to move towards the Nintendo gold-mine (and it is no secret this ruffled quite a lot of feathers of those who Microsoft originally targeted) which has now been rescinded this generation with dropping Kinect and the non-gaming focus, which has resulted in a weakening of Microsoft's image. And as Microsoft has had somewhat of an identity crisis, Sony has crafted a superb 'for the gamers' image, and continue to build a software library that is both vibrant and varied, reminding many of us of the days of the PS1/PS2 when Sony catered to all of our needs - which is a massive turn around from the PS3 misfire. Sony are not trying to expand into new markets while throwing their existing customers under the bus, something which Microsoft could be considered guilty of. And as a consumer, this makes my future PS4 purchase a safe bet.
Furthermore, I'm fairly cynical of their attempts to branch outside of their strengths (the US market, shooters, sports games, racers) because this has largely consisted of either buying up third party content, or short-lived internal projects that ultimately are not cultivated or given enough focus within their software strategy, both of which do not enrich and revolutionize the industry in ways that Sony's and Nintendo's software does. Microsoft are very good at doing what is popular very well, and not so good at pushing the industry into new directions.
Ultimately, when the bigwigs at Microsoft sat down and decided who their ideal customer was, and thus which demographic to strategize their software towards, that customer just wasn't me, and it never will be. We saw a shift of the nature of this ideal customer with the introduction of Kinect last generation, as Microsoft wanted to move towards the Nintendo gold-mine (and it is no secret this ruffled quite a lot of feathers of those who Microsoft originally targeted) which has now been rescinded this generation with dropping Kinect and the non-gaming focus, which has resulted in a weakening of Microsoft's image. And as Microsoft has had somewhat of an identity crisis, Sony has crafted a superb 'for the gamers' image, and continue to build a software library that is both vibrant and varied, reminding many of us of the days of the PS1/PS2 when Sony catered to all of our needs - which is a massive turn around from the PS3 misfire. Sony are not trying to expand into new markets while throwing their existing customers under the bus, something which Microsoft could be considered guilty of. And as a consumer, this makes my future PS4 purchase a safe bet.
hardcastlemccormick
Banned
Actually as I think on it, the industry is in a weird place.
1) The amount of top-tier games released is generally lower.
2) The arguments for needing multiple consoles are growing feebler and feebler.
3) Within the generation, PC's could find a middle ground with consoles via Steamboxes.
In this environment, the Xbox One isn't just fighting against the PS4, it's fighting against irrelevance. Exclusives are literally all we have left to differentiate the consoles from each other, but against a Steambox, the fight becomes more violent. I'm not sure the weaker can survive.
Earlier in this thread I suggested Microsoft court indies (they're quickly outpacing previous stereotypes of "indie") but that's just a short-term shield. Frankly I think Microsoft should follow up the Xbox One with a refocus on Windows again to combat SteamOS - with the not-clueless Xbox team in tow.
1) The amount of top-tier games released is generally lower.
2) The arguments for needing multiple consoles are growing feebler and feebler.
3) Within the generation, PC's could find a middle ground with consoles via Steamboxes.
In this environment, the Xbox One isn't just fighting against the PS4, it's fighting against irrelevance. Exclusives are literally all we have left to differentiate the consoles from each other, but against a Steambox, the fight becomes more violent. I'm not sure the weaker can survive.
Earlier in this thread I suggested Microsoft court indies (they're quickly outpacing previous stereotypes of "indie") but that's just a short-term shield. Frankly I think Microsoft should follow up the Xbox One with a refocus on Windows again to combat SteamOS - with the not-clueless Xbox team in tow.
For me they need to get of their Draconian digital policy. Not DRM per say but say when you download a game for "free" due to a glitch. Normally what happens in this case is your account either gets flagged or out right banned.
This fear that I have of one day getting something for free that may get me banned is outrageous. I mean shit happens maybe someone on the xbox servers messed up and for a small window put a glitched item on the store and some may have got said item free. Big woop right? Well not to MS. They put the blame on the user and end up banning you. Unlike Sony for instance they dont follow such things. If you happen to get a free game from a gltiched item, all that happens is they correct the glitch, remove item temporarily and they leave you alone. "Got a free game? Good for you, its out fault. Lets move forward" its what I get from them.
I recently did this with GOW HD collection on PSN. I dl the free PS+ trial and for some reason it unlocked the full game plus the vita cross buy thing. I would of been banned under MS's store and policy ok's this shit. I got Rayman game from the OMAN xbox thing and my bro's xbox got banned. Fuck that.
Edit: Forgot to state this is one of my issues with MS, not the issue but something that bothers me greatly and seems really unfair.
This fear that I have of one day getting something for free that may get me banned is outrageous. I mean shit happens maybe someone on the xbox servers messed up and for a small window put a glitched item on the store and some may have got said item free. Big woop right? Well not to MS. They put the blame on the user and end up banning you. Unlike Sony for instance they dont follow such things. If you happen to get a free game from a gltiched item, all that happens is they correct the glitch, remove item temporarily and they leave you alone. "Got a free game? Good for you, its out fault. Lets move forward" its what I get from them.
I recently did this with GOW HD collection on PSN. I dl the free PS+ trial and for some reason it unlocked the full game plus the vita cross buy thing. I would of been banned under MS's store and policy ok's this shit. I got Rayman game from the OMAN xbox thing and my bro's xbox got banned. Fuck that.
Edit: Forgot to state this is one of my issues with MS, not the issue but something that bothers me greatly and seems really unfair.